Automatic signal for dispensing pumps



July 25, 1939. c. s. HAZARD AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FOR DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Aug. 21, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1- 7&1 170 12 166 10;

INVENTOR 61:41:15; .5. Hazard flW/LQW/e/L ATTORNEYS July 25, 1939. c. s. HAZARD AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FOR DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Aug. 21. 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 25, 1939. c. s. HAZARD AUTOMATYC SIGNAL FOR DISPENSING PUMPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 21, 1936 INVENTOR [lrarles 5 Hazard 4/ ,r 1 zronnlzvs Patented July 25, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,167,151 AUTOMATIC SIGNAL roa DISPENSING PUMPS Charles S. Hazard, New York, N. Y., assignor to Neptune Meter Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 21, 1936, Serial No, 97,133

Claims.

This invention is directed to warning devices for informing customers when anindicator, such as that commonly used on a liquid dispensing pump, has not been reset to zero position at the 5 beginning of an operation.

Dispensing devices of the type used in gasoline filling stations, generally include a pump which forces liquid through a meter by which the volume of liquid dispensed is measured. A visible indicator is provided for indicating to the customer and to the attendant-the amount of liquid dispensed. However, in order for the indicator to register the quantity-of liquid dispensed during each individual transaction, it is necessary to reset the indicator to zero prior to each transaction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel indicating device which must be reset to zero position before each transaction in order to obtain a reading therefrom.

Afurther object of the invention is to warn the customer and the attendant in the event an operation is commenced prior to the resetting of I an indicator to zero. I

Another object. of the invention is to provide a liquid dispensing pump with-means which prevent the operator from ascertaining the quantity of liquid dispensed, unless the indicator has been properly zeroized prior to the dispensing-operation, thereby preventing the operator from manipulating the pump to give an erroneous read- 1 ing by totalizing a registered quantity of liquid from a preceding dispensing operation with a subsequently dispensed quantity.

. To achieve these objects of the invention, means "as may be provided for covering the visible indicating portion of the register or a suillcient part thereof to prevent reading of the indicator when the register has not been reset to zero, while allowing the indicator to be fully visible when the 40 device is operated after proper resetting of the indicator. w

In that'form of the invention hereinafter described, the indicator covering means is movable into a position in front of the visible indicating 45 means of a liquid dispensing pump when the dispensing operation is begun and is held in this position if the indicator were not previously reset to zero. However, if the indicator were fully reset prior to starting a dispensing operation, the

50 indicator covering means will move into its covering position and back again to expose the indicator.

The shutter used in the present invention may may be used with equal facility with a multiple drum or multiple disk register or a dial and pointer indicator, or any combination of the same.

The resetting means employed may also be of any desired type and maybe'manually operated 5 or motor driven to reset the indicator to zero. As hereinafter described, the mechanism may embody certain features disclosed in applicantsccopending applications Serial No. 28,036, filed June 24, 1935, now Patent No. 2,148,122, and Serial 10 No. 69,059, filed March 16, 1936 and issued as Patent No. 2,061,538, now Reissue Patent No. 21,- 0.41, and may include suitable shutter operating means controlled by the resetting means to prevent reading of the indicator if liquid is dispensed 15 prior to resetting of the indicator to zero.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a dispensing device 20 embodying the present invention with a portion of the housingiemoved;

Figure 2 is a plan view partially broken away of a detail of suitable resetting mechanism for the indicator and the interlocking controls for 25 the shutter of the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the resetting mechanism for the indicator and the interlocking controls for the shutter of Figures 1 and 2, also partially broken away; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail of the latch lever and the cam lever for controlling operation of the shutter of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a lost motion connection between the resetting crank shaft and the shaft for resetting the indicator of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the lost motion connection taken on line 6-4 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view in elevation of the lost mo- 40 tion connection of Figures 5 and 6 with the housing removed;

Figure 8 is a view in elevation of a detail of the shutter actuating means of Figure 1 with the latch lever shown diagrammatically in three 110- s'itions; and

Figure 9 is a view in section of a modified shut-. ter as applied to a drum type register, with the register shown diagrammatically.

Illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 discloses a dispensing pump having a housing indicated generally as A in Figure l l enclosing uprights 2 for supporting various elements of the device. A cross member 4 within the housing carries a motor 6 controlled by aply (not shown) to the disclosed one indicator pointer I8 only.

switch 1 and operable to drive a pump 8, to force liquid through a meter I8 from a source of supusual dispensing hose and noz'zle I2.

The meter is actuated by the passage of liquid therethrough to drive'an indicator B which is adapted to be reset to restore the indicator to zero between successive dispensing operations. The indicator may be of any suitable type, but as shown comprisesa .dial I4 and a pointer I8 mounted on a shaft l8. It will be understood that any conventional type of gearing or driving connection may be provided between the meter I8 and the shaft I8 and that either one or two pointers driven from shaft I8 may be provided for indicating the number of gallons and/or the fractions of gallons of fluid dispensed, these elements forming no part of the present invention. For purposes of illustration, however, there is A friction clutch, or other suitable means (not shown) may be provided between the indicator and the meter I8 to permit resetting of the indicator pointer and rotation of shaft I8'to restore the pointer to zero position without necessitating the backward operation of the meter, or rotation of the gears between the meter and the indicator.

In order to reset the indicator I8 to zero position on the dial l4 after a dispensing operation has been completed, suitable resetting mechanism may be used including a hand crank 28 for rotating shaft 28 journalled in bearing 21 in the. housing A. In alignment with the shaft 28 is another shaft 28 journalled inbearings 88 and 32 in journal plates 84 and88 respectively, supported in any desired manner in the housing. Fixed to shaft 28 for rotation therewith is a pinion 38 (Figures 2, 3 and 5) meshing with gear 48 to turn gears 42 and 44 upon rotation of shaft 28. Gears 48, 42 and 44 comprise a swinging gear train supported for movement-on lever 48 which is loosely mounted on shaft 28 for free movement thereabout. The end gear 44 of this. train of gears when moved upwar ly to reset the indicator engages and rotates pinion 48 fixed to shaft 58 journalled in bearings in journal plates 34 and 88 (as shown in Figure 2) At the outer end of shaft 88 is a bevel gear 82 for rotating a similar bevel gear 54 which in tum' is fixed to and rotates shaft I8. Since the pointer I8 is fixed to shaft I8 the mechanism described when actuated serves to reset the pointer to znero. The shaft I8 carries a single tooth ratchet 88, which upon rotation in a counterclockwise direction towardzero position is engageable with a pawl 58 mounted on the housing A or the back of the indicator dial I4 to stop the indicator pointer at zero position on the dial. In resetting the indicator by operation of th mechanism described, the gear 44 is moved into engagement with pinion 48 so that rotation of the crank 28 will cause rotation of shaft 28 to drive shaft 88 and shaft I8 to return the pointer I8 in a counterclockwise direction to zero position. On reaching zero the pawl 88 engages the tooth of ratchet 88 and prevents further rotation of the shafts I8, 88 and 28.

relatively movable through the mechanism disclosed in Figures 5, 6 and '1. As shown in Figure 5, a recessed disk 88 is fixed to shaft 28 for rotation therewith and is provided with a cam member 82, having diametrically, spaced cam lobes 84. Attached to the recesed disk 82 by stud'bolts 88 is a housing member 88 which is shiftable away from the disk 88 against the action of springs 18. Supported rigidly in the housing 88'is a bearing plate 12, through which shaft 28 projects. The end of shaft 28 is provided with a pin 14 carrying two pairs .of independently rotatable rollers I8 and 18. Rollers 18 are of greater diameter than rollers I8 and bear against plate 12 while rollers 18 bear against cam member 82. The rollers 18 normally are held between the cam lobes 84 of the cam member by the action of-springs 18 so that the face 18 of the housing 88 engages the adjacent face of the member 62 and serves as a clutch member to cause shafts 28 and 28 to rotate together. However, after the indicator pointer I8 has been reset to zero and pawl 58 engages the single toothed ratchet 58, the shaft 28- is held against further rotation so that further rotation of shaft 28 causes rollers 18 to ride up on the lobes 84 of the cam member. Rollers 18 engaging plate 12 then displace the housing 88 axially of the shaft 28 against the action of spring 18 separating the clutchface 18 of the housing from the adjacent face of the member, 88, thereby permitting relative rotation of the shafts 28. and 28.

In accordance with the present invention, displacement of the housing 88 is used to control the operation of the indicator shutter to prevent the operator from reading the indicator in the event liquid is dispensed .prior to resetting of the indicator to zero. The shutter mechanism of Figure 1 comprises a ring I88 fixedly secured to the housing and a rotatable ring I88 mounted for movement about the periphery of ring l88- The leaves I18 of the iris shutter are pivoted on the pins I12 on fixed ring I 88 and are provided with slots I14 into which pins I18 on the movable ring I88 extend as in the usual construction of an iris shutter. Rotation of the movable ring I88 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Flgure 1 therefore .causes the leaves of the iris shutter to move inwardly over the face of the indicator dial, whereas rotation of the ring in a clockwise direction causes them to move toward the periphery of the indicator dial to expose the indicator to view.

The operation 'of the shutter is controlled by means actuated upon movement of the housing 88 of the resetting mechanism. In the construction illustrated, the control means includes a bracket 88 (Figure 2) supported on the journal plate 24 and provided with a pivot pin 82 about which a control plate 84 is movable. The control plate has a projection 88 extending therefrom and lying adjacent a flange 88 on the housing 88 whereby the control plate is rocked in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 2, on displacement of the housing 88 away from the member 88. The opposite end of the control plate 84 is provided with a projection 88 which normally lies in the path of movement of alatch member I84 pivotally supported between spaced members I88 and I82 on the free end of a latch carrying arm 88. The arm 88 is secured to one end of a shaft 84 rotatably mounted on the journal plates 84 and 88, whereas the opposite end of the arm is provided with a shutter operating lever 98'. Movement of the shutter operating lever and the shutter are thus controlled by movement of the latch carrying arm 96.

The shaft 94 to which the latch arm and shutter operating lever are secured is provided with a yoke I08 pivotally supported thereon and formed with an arm II4 having a cam surface I I6 which is movable to engage the end 90 of the control plate 84 for returning the control plate to the position shown in Figure 2 upon the initiation of a dispensing operation. A spring I20 surrounding the shaft 94 is provided with one end bearing against the latch carrying arm 96 and with its opposite end engaging beneath the arm I I4 to yieldingly hold these arms together, a stop I02, on the arm '96 engaging the upper surface of arm II4 to limit upward movement of the arm II4.

The yoke I08 also is provided with an arm I22 which is connected by a link I26 to the plate 46 for moving gear 44 of the resetting gear train into and out of engagement with the gear 48 for resetting the indicator to zero. The arm I22 is also provided with an ofiset portion I24 connected by the link I28 to a pivoted hose supporting arm 22 which is mounted at 24 within the casing and projects through an opening 20 to receive and hold the nozzle I2 of the dispensing hose. A link I30 also connected to the ifset portion I24 of arm I22 extends therefrom to an operating arm I32 for actuating the motor switch 1. The arm I32 is provided with a weight I34 which serves to lower the switch arm I32, moving it to its on position for starting the motor upon removal of the hose nozzle from itssupport 22. support 22 is suflicient to hold the switch operating arm and weight I 34 as well as the yoke I08 and arms 96 and H4 in raised position. However, on removal of the hose nozzle the yoke I08 is lowered by weight I34 actuating the switch I and lowering the gear train comprising gears 40, 42 and 44 to their inactive position with gear disengaged from gear 48.

Movement of the yoke I08 downward as described also tends to move the latch carrying arm 96 and the shutter operating arm 98 to the lowermost position indicated in dotted lines on Figure 8 for actuating the shutter operating mechanism to move the shutter into and again out of position to cover the indicator dial. However, if the indicator was not previously reset to zero so that the control plate 84 is not moved away from the position indicated in Figure 2 by movement of the housing 68, the latch member I04 will engage the portion '90 of the control plate 84 holding the latch carrying arm 96 and the shutter operating arm 98 in the mid-position indicated in dotted lines on Figure 8. In this case, the shutteroperating means will be actuated only far enough to move the shutter into the indicator concealing position so that the indicator cannot be read.

The shutter operating means which is actuated by the lever 98 comprises a link I 36 connected to the free'end of lever 98, the opposite end of the link being connected to a pawl carrying member I38 rotatably mounted on shaft 50 and having pawl I40 pivoted thereon. Paw] I 40 is biased in a counterclockwise direction by spring I42 and engages four toothed ratchet I44, integral with or rigidly attached to a gear I46 also loosely rotatable on shaft 50. Driven by gear I46 is a pinion, I 48, fixed to shaft I50 journalled in plate members 36and I52. The gears I46 and pinion I48 are so proportioned that one revolution of The weight of the hose and nozzle on gear I46 causes four revolutions of pinion I48 and crank pin I54 mounted on disk I56 adjacent plate I52. Crank pin ;I54 is connected through a link I58 to a shutter actuating lever I60 pivotally mounted on plate I52 at I62, whereby rotation of the crank pin I54 will cause oscillatory movement of arm I60. The ends of shutter actuating arm I60 are connected through a sliding and pivotal connection I64 to the ring I66 which is rotatably mounted on the periphery of a fixed ring I68, so thatrelative rotation of the outer ring I66 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 will cause the shutter to close and cover at least partially the dial I4 and pointer I6.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that a dispensing operation has been completed and the dispensing-hose has been returned to the movable hose support 22 and that a 10 gallon quantity of fluid has been delivered in the dispensing operation; the indicator 'will then read 10 gallons, the motor will be stopped and the control member: projection 98 will be located under the latch I 04 on latch lever 96 with the latter in its highest position as shown in Figures 3 and 8.

To dispense another quantity of fluid, the hose must be removed from the hook 22 permitting it pawl I40 moved by link I36 engages the ratchet I44, turning gear I46 through one-eighth of a revolution. The ratio between gear I46 and pinion I48 being l'to 4, pinion I48 is rotated through 180 thereby moving the crank pin I54 into its lowest possible'position'or 180 from the position disclosed in Figure 8. This displaces lever I 60 downwardly, rocking ring I66 counterclock-- wise and closing the iris shutter so that it is impossible to see the dial I4 and pointer I6. If the valve in the dispensing nomle is then opened todispense the fluid, the shutter will remain in in dicator covering position preventing the attendant from knowing the quantity of liquid dispensed.

7 0n discovering this condition, the attendant must reset the indicator B to zero by' operating the resetting crank 25 .with hook 22 in-its hose supporting position. The indicator is thus returned counterclockwise to zero position through the rotation of shafts 26 and 28. The indicator "shaft I8 and pointer I6 are then rotated counterclockwise until stop 'means- 56 and 58 engage, thereby preventing further rotation of 'shaft I8. Further rotation of crank 25 causes shaft 26 to rotate relative to shaft 28 displacing the housing 68 axially of shaft 26, and swinging the projection 90 on control member 84 from beneath the latch I04. Thereafter, upon upward movement of the hose support 22, the motor 6 is started, and the gear 44 disengaged from pinion 48 leaving indicator shaft I8 free to be rotated by the meter l0. The latch lever 96 is then swung downwardly with levers H4 and I22 to its lowerrfilost position through thetension of spring I20, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8. As cam lever II4 moves downwardly, similarly as disclosed in my aforesaid application Serial No. 28,036, cam surface IIG engages an edge of projection. on the control member 84 turning the latter clockwise as viewed in Figure 2. The cam surface 92 engages latch I04, tilting it back so that the projection SIi-may pass thereabove as the latch moves downwardly. Lever 28, moving with latch lever 86 causes pawl I40 to rotate ratchet I44 and gear I48 through one-fourth of a revolution, thereby turning the pinion I48 and crank pin I43 through 360, and oscillating shutter actuating arm I60 and shutter actuating ring I58 to close and again open the shutter leaving I the dial I4 and pointer l6 exposed. The hand 8; As the lever I I4 reaches its highest position,

the lever I22, I24, acting through link I26, causes the gear 44 to engage the pinion 48 thereby placing ,the indicator in a condition to be reset to zero.

It will be understood from the foregoing descriptionthat a device has been provided which necessitates a positive sequence of operations prior to a dispensing operation to insure that the quantity of liquid dispensed may be indicated visibly on the indicators of the pump in order that the customer and the attendant may determine the quantity that has been dispensed.

In Figure Q is illustrated a drop type of shutter for use with a drum type of register. .The mechanism for actuating the shutters I80 of this indicator may be the same as that in the first described modification; the oscillatable arm I" in this modification however directly carries the shutter plates I80 which move between the numeral drums I82 and the usual apertures I84 in the dispensing pump housing A. The shutter carrying arm I6. may be suitably-supported for movement on the main drive shaft I86 of the register and may be connected directly to the crank pin eanyifigfigiknion I4! of the construction of Figure 1 by the I58. The operation of the shutters in the modified construction is the same as that described ionthe opei'ation of theconstruction of Figure 1 and therefore will be apparent from the foregoingidescription.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the shutter actuating mechanism and the shutters are easily adaptedfor use with any type of register or indicator, or with any combination of one or more registers of the same f or different type, and that many modifications of the mechanism for actuating the shutter may be made. Therefore, the examples disclosedshould be considered as illustrative only, and not as limiting the scope of the invention.

I claim: 1. In a liquid dispensing device having a meter,

- an'indicator actuated in accordance with the operation of said meter and movable away from liquid dispensed and means for resetting said indicator to said initial position: the combination of an iris shutter having a plurality of movable shutter leaves disposed in front of the indicator, movable means for selectively moving said's'hutter leaves to indicatorcovering and indicator exposing positions and control means actuated by said resetting means for limiting movement of said shutter moving means to a position wherein the shutter leaves cover the indicator until the indicator has been resetto initial position.

2. In a liquid dispensing device having-a meter, an indicator movable away from an initial'position in accordance with the operation of said meter, and means for resetting said indicator to said initial position; the combinaton of shutter means movable to indicator covering and exposing positions, a control member engageable with said shutter means to stop the shutter means in indicator covering position, said control member being displaceable after the indicator has been reset to said initial position .to allow the shutter means to move to indicator exposing position.

3. In a liquid dispensing device having a meter,

an indicator movable away from an initial position in accordance with the operation of said meter, and means for resetting said indicator to said initial position; the combination of shutter means movable to indicator covering and exposing positions, means for initiating the movement of said shutter means, and a control member engageable with said shutter means to stop it in indicator v covering position, said control member being displaceable by said resetting means after the indicator has been reset to said initial position to allow said shutter means to move-to indicator exposin position.

4. In a dispensing device having means for dispensing fluid, means for starting said dispensing means, an indicator for registering the quantity or fluid dispensed, and means for resetting the indicator to an initial position; the combination of a shutter movable to indicator covering and exposing positions, means operatively connected to said starting means for normally moving said shutter-flrstto indicator covering and then exposin positions when said starting means is actuated to start said dispensing means, and a control member associated with said resettingmeans and operative to stop said shutter in indicator covering position when the indicator is away from said initiai position.

- 5. In a dispensing device having means for dispensing fluid, means for starting said dispensing means, anindicator for registering the quantity of fluiddispensed, and means for resetting the indie cator to an initial position; the combination of a operative tostop said shutter in indicator covering position when said indicator has not been reset to initial position, said control member being displaceable by said resetting means after the indi-- v cator has been reset tosaid initial position.

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